Where is Joseph C. Daniels now?

When contemplating his accomplishments, Joseph Daniels likes to reflect on two people who share his birthday: George W. Bush and the Dalai Lama.

The stark contrasts between the two represent his own dual personas: the conservative former lawyer and McKinsey consultant who has worked his entire life to meet his father's expectations, and the published poet with two tattoos, who left the corporate world to make a difference.

The conflicting traits serve him well when it comes to managing the contentious project to build the September 11 Memorial & Museum. The nonprofit hired the New Jersey native as its general counsel in 2005 and promoted him to the top job a year later.

Under his watch, the memorial has raised $230 million, enabling it to complete its $350 million capital campaign eight months ahead of schedule. But most important, Mr. Daniels has smoothed over tensions between the Sept. 11 families and competing stakeholders in the rebuilding of downtown.

"His mix of persistence and vision, combined with his great ability to define goals and milestones, are key to keeping this complex project moving forward," says Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris.

With construction under way, Mr. Daniels is planning the memorial's opening on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks and contemplating how graphic the museum exhibits should be. Still horrified by having seen people jump out of the buildings eight years ago, and humbled by the responsibility he's been given, he lies awake some nights worrying about the project's outcome.

"It is so rare that in someone's job they have the opportunity to make such an impact," he says. "I just want it to be something New Yorkers and the country are proud of. But until you create it, you're not going to know."